Dad who video taped daughter's rape says sorry for 'poor judgment'

Judge gives man the max; girl's mother awaits trial

A Kent man accused of joining his wife in raping their 4-year-old daughter live online was sentenced Friday, receiving a punishment that could see him locked away indefinitely.

Filing charges in October, King County prosecutors accused Brian Keith Beston, 36, and Hollie Beston, 32, of repeatedly sexually assaulting their child in trade for child pornography. Authorities began investigating the Bestons after a convicted child molester told authorities he'd been exchanging child pornography with them.

Having pleaded guilty previously to first-degree rape and related charges, Brian Beston was sentenced to a minimum prison term of more than 26 years. After serving that time, he'll remain confined until state authorities deem him fit for release.

Addressing King County Superior Court Judge Regina Cahan, Beston claimed remorse before apologizing for a his "poor judgment" and saying he hoped to mend fences with his children in the future.

The mea culpa left Cahan unimpressed.

"To call it a lapse of judgment is beyond an understatement," Cahan told Beston before sentencing him to the maximum.

Hollie Beston remains jailed and has entered a not guilty plea. She's scheduled to again appear in court July 20.

Writing the court previously, Senior Deputy Prosecutor Zachary Wagnild described the assaults to the court as "horrific."

"Both defendants were involved in the repeated rape and sexual abuse of their 4-year-old daughter," Wagnild told the court. "The couple … (entered) into an agreement with an individual in California to send him images of themselves sexually abusing their daughter in return for images of him sexually abusing his own children."

According to court documents, members of a Seattle police child-abuse task force learned of the abuse after a San Diego, Calif., child molester told investigators there that he'd met the Bestons after posting a Craigslist advertisement posing as a single mother.

The offender told federal investigators that Brian Beston, of Kent, responded to his advertisement immediately and shortly thereafter began sending photos of a young girl the offender later learned was the Bestons' daughter, prosecutors allege. The couple went on to set up a live camera session during which Beston could be seen sexually assaulting his child.

Notified of the allegations Oct. 23, officers with the Seattle Internet crimes against children unit found the Bestons' home and took them into custody later that day.

Confronted by officers, Detective Tye Holand claimed in court documents, Hollie Beston admitted to watching as Brian Beston assaulted the child, and to taking still photos and video of the assaults.

Brian Beston made a similar admission, describing in detail his molestation of his own daughter.

Addressing the court Friday, Senior Deputy Prosecutor Julie Kays noted that the Bestons decision to make a video of the assaults on their daughter -- a video they attempted to use to gain photos of other children being abused -- demanded the most severe sentence possible.

"For this little girl to have her parents do this to her is particularly horrific, and particularly disturbing," Kays told Cahan.

Joined by members of her family, several women close to the girl spoke on her behalf Friday.

All asked that Beston receive the sentence Cahan handed him. Several suggested Beston's claims of remorse were contrived, in part because they'd heard him offer similar assurances after he molested another girl.

"This is not the only child he has abused," one woman close to the girl said.

"Things that are done in secret do come to light," she continued. "I don't understand how he did what he did. The only word to describe it is evil."

Beston did not undertake a pre-sentencing assessment in which he would have been asked about his history of abuse. Through his attorney, he denied the claim.

Speaking to Cahan, Beston offered an apology for his actions.

"They were morally and legally wrong and as a result of my actions … I have robbed my little girl," Beston told the court.

Both Bestons have been charged with first-degree child rape, first-degree child molestation, sexual exploitation of a minor and dealing child pornography. Brian Beston pleaded guilty as charged; both remain jailed.